To Infinity … and beyond

Birchwood Honda sees bright future

By: Myron Love

http://autos.winnipegfreepress.com/index.php?action=news&step=article&id=1408

Birchwood Honda West had a double celebration on Wednesday, April 22.

On that date, more than 200 guests were on hand for both the grand re-opening of the greatly expanded Pointe West Auto Centre dealership and the official launch of Honda’s 2010 Insight Hybrid.

“The 2010 Insight Hybrid is going to be a huge car for Honda,” says Birchwood Honda West sales rep Damien Burns. “Sales in Japan have been so brisk that Honda has already doubled production.”

Burns notes the only feature in common the new model has with its predecessor is its name. The original Insight Hybrid, which was introduced in 1999, was a two-seater. The 2010 version seats five and looks like a cross between a hatchback and a wagon.

“Our new Insight is built with third-generation hybrid technology,”

Burns says. “Under ideal conditions — such as a flat road and at a certain speed — the Insight runs on electric power alone.”

The battery, he notes, is smaller than in previous models and is stored under the floor in the trunk alongside the spare tire. That creates considerably more storage capacity in the trunk.

Among the new model’s features is IMA (Integrated Motor Assist), which means that the electric motor adds power when needed and recharges itself by recapturing the energy released during braking.

Burns also points out the green ECON button — on the dashboard — which, through Honda’s Eco Assist technology, improves fuel efficiency and reduces overall energy use. The Eco Guide feature encourages better driving practices. The guide is displayed in the form of a tree, which grows leaves as a reward for better driving decisions.

Burns further notes the 2010 Insight’s aerodynamic design, which is aimed at reducing wind resistance and minimize coefficient drag.

Burns points out that with a base price of $25,210 (including freight and pdi), the 2010 Insight Hybrid LX is $3,000-$5,000 less than competing hybrid models (depending on the option package). The EX version starts at $28, 810.

Birchwood Honda West also looks quite different from its former self.

The dealership was originally built in 1999, the same year the Insight was launched. It was the first dealership built at the new Pointe West Auto Centre in Headingley.

“Since then, we have built 11 other dealerships (most of which are part of the Birchwood Auto Group) and remodelled two of them,” said Birchwood Auto Group president Steve Chipman in his address to the staff and guests gathered for the rededication of Birchwood Honda West.

“We had built-in room for expansion,” he noted, “but we didn’t expect to be expanding quite this soon.”

Expansion, he pointed out, was driven by a tremendous growth in sales.

He noted that the west-end Honda dealership is one of the top 10 dealers in Winnipeg as measured by total sales.

The $2.7-million expansion, which was completed late last year, has more than doubled the size of the Pointe West Auto Centre dealership.

The 13,000-square-foot addition brings the number of service bays to

13 and adds two new detailing areas, two new quick-lube bays, a delivery pod indoors and enough space in the showroom for 11 vehicles. “We can now showcase every vehicle in our lineup,” Chipman said.

“We hope that this expansion will hold us for another 10 years as we look forward to further growth in Honda sales.”

Waverley Chrysler general manager Steve Dennis reports that his dealership is once again supporting the Winnipeg Police Service Half Marathon (21.08 km), which is scheduled for this coming Sunday at the Running Room. Dennis notes the event is sold out and that the run is expected to raise $100,000 for cancer research. Waverley Chrysler dresses up a Challenger RT model to help promote the event, which is now in its fifth year.

http://www.honda.ca/HondaCA2006/StoryPopUp.asp?L=E&P=Splash_Storyboard&N=1

TORONTO (September 5, 2008) – Honda will reveal a concept version of its new small hybrid vehicle, to be named Insight, at the 2008 Paris International Auto Show on October 2. The new Insight Concept shares styling cues with the Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle and provides an early look at the new five-passenger hybrid vehicle due to arrive in Canada next spring.

The all-new, purpose-built Insight will come to market at a price below current hybrids available today. From this unique position in the marketplace, the Honda Insight will advance the affordability and accessibility of hybrid technology to a new generation of buyers.

“The original Honda Insight pioneered hybrid technology in North America and remains a symbol of Honda’s commitment to innovative technology and fuel efficiency,” said Takeo Fukui, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Chief Executive Officer. “This new Insight will break new ground as an affordable hybrid within the reach of customers who want great fuel economy and great value.”

The Insight Concept defines a new stage in the evolution of hybrid technology by utilizing a more cost-efficient version of Honda’s Integrated Motor Assist^TM (IMA^TM) hybrid technology, resulting in a new level of affordability for hybrid customers worldwide. Evoking the innovative styling cues first seen in the FCX Clarity, the Insight Concept is designed with a low center of gravity and a generous five-passenger cabin, offering the kind of driving pleasure and roomy interior that customers have come to expect from Honda.

While the Insight Concept’s aerodynamic design clearly identifies its fuel-efficient purpose, its five-door access and folding rear seats speak to functionality that is designed to meet the needs of customers with an active lifestyle. The Insight Concept is a small, fuel-efficient hybrid car that delivers big style and functionality with a healthy dose of fun.

Honda has achieved a significant cost reduction in Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) components which will allow Insight to be most affordable hybrid vehicle to date. The production Insight will be offered as a five-door, five-passenger hatchback. Numerous technologies, including a function to assist customers in achieving more fuel-efficient driving habits, will be applied to achieve a further improvement in real world fuel efficiency. With its affordable price, the new hybrid vehicle will represent the best value in its segment. Along with the Civic Hybrid, the new vehicle will be produced at an expanded hybrid vehicle production line at the Suzuka factory in Japan.

The Insight is expected to have annual global sales of 200,000 units per year with half of those in North America. Following the launch of the new Insight, Honda also plans to introduce a unique sporty hybrid vehicle based on the CR-Z, first shown at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. All together, Honda’s global sales of hybrids are expected to increase to approximately 500,000 units a year (more than 10 per cent of its total worldwide annual automobile sales).

The original Honda Insight was introduced in December 1999 as North America’s first gasoline-electric hybrid car. It was designed to demonstrate the ultimate potential for fuel-economy in a two-seater subcompact automobile.

Honda is a leader in the development of leading-edge technologies to improve vehicle fuel efficiency and reduction of CO2 emissions, including advanced gasoline engines, gasoline-electric hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell cars.